UNC athletics department in the black for seventh straight year

The exact tabulations aren't in yet, but the North Carolina athletics department is finishing fiscal 2005 in the black. "We won't have final numbers until the fall," said Martina Ballen, UNC's associate athletics director for business and finance. "Do I expect to operate in the black? Most definitely. How much in the black? We're not sure, but we're not concerned at all." UNC athletics director Dick Baddour was confident UNC would have a surplus based on the department's expenses. He has been the school's AD since June 1997, and UNC has finished on the budget plus-side each year since 1999. (Durham Herald-Sun)